Epiphany - The Path of the Magi
Having followed the star, they journey to find the newborn King of the Jews. They offer him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But the Magi have a more precious gift for us. In the night, they heard the Spirit warning them not to return to Herod but return home by a different route. They gave us the gift of listening to God's Spirit and the confidence to follow a different path. Just as they trusted the appearance of the star to take them to the King, they trusted the voice of the Spirit. They step into the unknown, without a star to lead them, and rejoicing, follow the voice of God.
Having followed the star, they journey to find the newborn King of the Jews. They offer him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But the Magi have a more precious gift for us. In the night, they heard the Spirit warning them not to return to Herod but return home by a different route. They gave us the gift of listening to God's Spirit and the confidence to follow a different path. Just as they trusted the appearance of the star to take them to the King, they trusted the voice of the Spirit. They step into the unknown, without a star to lead them, and rejoicing, follow the voice of God.
You Will Know a Tree by its Fruit
A sermon based on Matthew Chapter 7 - What Fruit Do Your Works Bear?
“Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.” ~ from the Letter from the Birmingham Jail (1963) by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As we reflect on recent events, it’s important to remember that this is not who we are. We a called to bear fruits of justice, mercy, and love.
A sermon based on Matthew Chapter 7 - What Fruit Do Your Works Bear?
“Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.” ~ from the Letter from the Birmingham Jail (1963) by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As we reflect on recent events, it’s important to remember that this is not who we are. We a called to bear fruits of justice, mercy, and love.
The Baptism of Jesus
Welcome to worship here in Richardson, Texas or wherever you may be joining from today. We wish you a happy new year and are so happy you are in worship today.
If this is your very first time watching or you have been attending online for a while, we are happy you are here.
Welcome to worship here in Richardson, Texas or wherever you may be joining from today. We wish you a happy new year and are so happy you are in worship today.
If this is your very first time watching or you have been attending online for a while, we are happy you are here. We want you to get more connected. The best way to do that is to fill out the “I’m New” connection form at www.arapahoumc.org/new.
The Search for Jesus
If this is your very first time watching, or you have been attending online for a while, we are happy you are here. We want you to get more connected. The best way to do that is to fill out the “I’m New” connection form at www.arapahoumc.org/new.
If this is your very first time watching, or you have been attending online for a while, we are happy you are here. We want you to get more connected. The best way to do that is to fill out the “I’m New” connection form at www.arapahoumc.org/new.
A 5C Church: Creative
When you start to live in the reality that God is making all things new, then you start to see the pattern, you see the new thing coming from the rubble, you see the stump of the tree to be sure but you know to look closer and you see the shoot of new life coming through.
A 5C Church: Creative
When you start to live in the reality that God is making all things new, then you start to see the pattern, you see the new thing coming from the rubble, you see the stump of the tree to be sure but you know to look closer and you see the shoot of new life coming through.
So you can trust what is coming next - you look back and you grieve what was and you feel the pain of what is not there but then you turn to your imagination and you trust that something new is going to come out of even this.
I will tell you in February last year when the General Conference of the United Methodist Church doubled down on discriminating against LGBTQ+ persons, I was so deeply sad: this is not the church I know, not the Wesleyan theology and tradition we are about It was the darkest time in United Methodism I have experience but then the Spirit hovered over our congregation and what emerged is our conviction and courage to not just say we are inclusive but to show it through our actions by voting to open up our altar to same-gender weddings and it has made us an even greater witness for Christ’s love.
Your Light Has Come
The birth of Christ is the light that has come into the world not just for the people of Israel but for the whole world, and the three kings represent that, they are foreigners from a foreign land who see the light and receive the light and pay homage to the light, too.
This light that has come into the world, this light that has cut through the darkness, is for everyone. This new day, this new dawn that marks the beginning of the end for the dark things of this world is for everyone. Salvation is for everyone.
The birth of Christ is the light that has come into the world not just for the people of Israel but for the whole world, and the three kings represent that, they are foreigners from a foreign land who see the light and receive the light and pay homage to the light, too.
This light that has come into the world, this light that has cut through the darkness, is for everyone. This new day, this new dawn that marks the beginning of the end for the dark things of this world is for everyone. Salvation is for everyone.